GOLDEN HORSE: Huang Hsin-yao wins best new director award

Huang Hsin-yao (黃信堯)

Taipei, Nov. 25 (CNA) Taiwanese director Huang Hsin-yao (黃信堯) won the Golden Horse for best new director on Saturday for his dark comedy film "The Great Buddha +."

"The Great Buddha +," which led all films at this year's Golden Horse Awards with 10 nominations, is Huang's first feature-length film and represents an extension of his 2014 Golden Horse-nominated short film, "The Great Buddha."

In his acceptance speech, the 44-year-old director thanked his film producers, cast and crew, especially his technical staff, for helping him complete his first feature-length film.

"I'm glad I've been able to make it into the film industry. I'm probably the oldest nominee in the new director category," Huang said. "I will keep on working hard. Thank you everyone."

The satirical film is about a security guard named Pickle and his friend Belly Button who secretly watch the dash cam footage recorded in the car of Pickle's boss one day and discover the boss's dark secret.

But they are afraid to expose the wrongdoing because they fear it will be hard to get anyone to pay attention to them.

Told from the perspective of Pickle and Belly Button, who collects recyclable materials, the black-and-white film shows the struggles of the underclass and exposes the corruption of politicians and the economically powerful.

Huang got his start in the industry by making documentary films. His film "Bluffing" won the Golden Harvest Award for best documentary in 2005. In 2011, his documentary "Taivalu" grabbed the grand prize at the Taipei Film Awards.

"The Great Buddha +" has also been nominated for a Golden Horse Award for best feature film, best supporting actor, best adapted screenplay, best cinematography, best art direction, best original film score, best original film song, best film editing and best sound effects.

The other nominees in the Golden Horse best new director category were Huang Xi for "Missing Johnny," Tan Seng Kiat for "Shuttle Life," Zhou Ziyang for "Old Beast," and Chan Ching-lin for "The Island that All Flow By."